People Can’t Hear Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’s Dialogue

Without a doubt, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the most eagerly awaited film of 2023 for many. This film is the sequel to the Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and has a weighty legacy to uphold.

With its state-of-the-art animation, mature and darker plot, the film is exceeding most people’s expectations. Yet, there seems to be a small issue dampening the theatre experience for viewers – the sound mix (via Twitter).

Sound Mix Issues Emerge Online

Numerous online threads have sprouted up with viewers discussing their concerns about the sound mix, especially at the start of the film. According to the official Across the Spider-Versethread on Reddit, it seems to be a nationwide issue and not just limited to a couple of cinemas.

One Redditor, u/DeleteriousEuphuism, asked, “Did anyone else’s theatre have sound mixing too low for characters compared to the music?”.

Opening Sequence: Where Music Drowns Dialogue

Others commented that they noticed this issue during the opening sequence, which features a voiceover from Gwen Stacy while rhythmic drumming plays. The music was reportedly so loud that it was challenging to comprehend what Gwen was saying.

This has led to some viewers eagerly awaiting the home release, so they can rewatch the scene with the aid of subtitles.

Reactions from the Film’s Creators

Credit: Sony Pictures

Reddit isn’t the only platform where fans have expressed their frustration. Similar comments have been found on Twitter and ResetEra. Across the Spider-Verse‘s writer and producer, Phil Lord, has acknowledged the situation and even tweeted pictures of stickers he had made to send to cinema projectionists.

These read: “I played Spider-Verse at full volume because I’m awesome.” He further explained, “The movie mix is really dynamic and comfortable at full volume. In a full house, it might even be better at 7.5!”

Lingering Issues and Fan Reactions

Unfortunately, not everyone seems to have received Lord’s message yet. The common grievance is that the dialogue is too quiet at the start of the film and gets overwhelmed by the music. This issue appears to recur regardless of the format (IMAX or Dolby) people view it in. Some cinema workers have mentioned they would follow Lord’s guidelines, but it may take time for others to receive word. As a result, fans who watched it last night might have encountered issues that those planning to see it in a week or two may not.

Despite these minor technical problems, fans’ love for the film remains unwavering. The film currently boasts a 95% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and Twitter is abuzz with praise for it. Fans have been discussing their personal experiences with the audio mix under Phil Lord’s tweet, but many were quick to remind him that the film is fantastic. Twitter user @seaninthemiddle even joked, “It was too quiet in my theatre tonight. Guess I’ll have to go see it again. And again. And again.”

A Visual Spectacle that Transcends Technical Glitches

Credit: Sony Pictures

Even though not being able to hear Gwen at the start of Across the Spider-Versecan be a bit bothersome, most fans are willing to overlook these minor technical hiccups because of the film’s overall brilliance. The film is such a visual spectacle that even scenes of just two characters talking are filled with visual splendour. It makes sense there are people like Redditor u/HaughtStuff99 who pointed out the audio issues, but how they came secondary to everything else: “Eventually I stopped paying attention to that because the movie sucked me in”.